Careers and Employability
Employers are attracted to students graduating with an American Studies degree because of the rigorous training in handling a range of information and in making creative links between distinct areas of thought.
American Studies Career Paths
The range of careers that American Studies students have entered and for which the degree prepares you include Armed Services, Education (schools, tertiary colleges, universities, teaching English as a foreign language), Finance, Government, Journalism, Marketing, Media (film and radio), Publishing and Social Services. The vast majority of our graduates gain employment within a short time of graduating.
See some real examples of Graduate Profiles.
Transferable Skills
American Studies emphasises a flexible approach to learning academic subjects and practical skills, enhanced by the opportunity to live and study in America for a year.
To ensure that our graduates receive the best preparation for the workplace, we ensure that our courses teach a wide range of transferable skills. Our students are trained in group work, oral presentations, and numeracy, as well as writing, research and analytical skills. In 2012, we are also introducing new careers workshops leading to a Certificate for Employability.
The growth of the global market over the last twenty years
mean that many jobs in the public and private sectors have an
international and often a transatlantic dimension. Employers are looking
for independence, creativity, maturity and a broad cultural outlook, all of which are stressed in the American Studies degree at Leicester.
Further Study
Some students decide to do a year of further training after their degree, to qualify for a particular profession like Law or Accountancy, taking a vocational Masters course in Journalism or Publishing, completing a teaching qualification, or an academic Masters course to specialise in a particular area of study.
Help with choosing your future Career
Focused careers sessions are arranged for each year of the degree by the Careers Officer, Dr Guy Barefoot, with staff from the University Careers Service. All the staff in the Centre for American Studies are very happy to discuss employment and further training options, and the Careers Service in the David Wilson Library has a wealth of material helping you choose what to do after your degree.
